[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E983-E984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN RECOGNITION OF MSGT (RET.) MILTON LOCKETT, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 10, 2018

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated 
husband, father, community servant, trailblazer, and Army Ranger, MSGT 
(RET) Milton ``Davey'' Lockett, Jr., Sadly, MSGT Lockett passed away on 
June 27, 2018. His funeral services were held on July 3, 2018, at 11:30 
a.m. in the Chapel of Hill-Watson-People's Funeral Service LLC, in 
Columbus, Georgia.
  MSGT Lockett was born on February 5, 1935, to the union of Milton 
Lockett, Sr., and Bessie Mae Richards Lockett in College Park, Georgia. 
He married Ida Clay Lockett on February 12, 1955, and God blessed that 
union to last for 52 years. One son was born to that union. God has 
blessed his current union to his wife, Angela for seven years.
  It has been said that, ``Service is the rent that we pay for the 
space that we occupy here on this earth.'' MSGT Lockett paid his rent 
and he paid it well. His distinguished Military career commenced in the 
United States Army in February, 1952. Over the course of the next 21 
plus years, MSGT Lockett distinguished himself as a great soldier. He 
served in the Korean Conflict and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. 
His first tour was with the 1st Infantry division in 1966 and 1967. His 
second tour was with the 101st Airborne Division in 1968 and 1969. 
During his distinguished career, he received multiple Decorations, 
Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons to include: the National 
Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Republic of Vietnam 
Campaign Medal w/60 device, the Vietnam Service Medal w/1 silver star, 
the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Unit Citation, an Army Service 
Gallantry with Palm and Bronze Star, and 4 Overseas Service Bars.
  Not only was MSGT Lockett a great soldier, he was also a trailblazer. 
He was the first African-American Ranger Instructor in the History of 
the Army in 1959. Because of his excellence, he performed for President 
John F. Kennedy in 1961. He was inducted in the Ranger Hall of Fame in 
2001 and the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame in 2014. One 
portion of the Ranger Creed reads as follows: . . . ``Never shall I 
fail my comrades.'' I will always keep myself mentally alert, 
physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my 
share of the task whatever it may be, one-hundred percent and then 
some. . . .'' MSGT Lockett always gave ``one hundred percent and then 
some.''
  Even after his distinguished military career ended, he continued to 
give of himself in service to his community. He was a member of the 
First African Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia, Past Master of the 
Sons of King Solomon No. 358, Electric City Chapter No. 482, 32 degree, 
Royal Arc and also, a Shriner. He was well known in the Columbus 
community for his anti-crime efforts to include neighborhood watches 
and leading marches against crime. The Columbus City Council recognized 
him in 2007 for his work as president of Columbus Against Drugs.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife Vivian and the 
more than 730,000 constituents of the Second Congressional District in 
recognizing MSGT (Ret.) Milton ``Davey'' Lockett for his dedicated 
service to our country and his community. I further ask my colleagues 
to join us in expressing condolences to his family, friends and the 
Columbus, Georgia community. May they be consoled and comforted by 
their abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months 
ahead. May we all learn from the example of MSGT Ret. Lockett in giving 
``one hundred percent and then some.''

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